Review: The Tony and Cassandra Mysteries, Series One

By JUSTIN PARTRIDGE

Dark Shadows gets its own Nick and Nora Charles in the debut series of The Tony and Cassandra Mysteries from Big Finish. Anchored by the dazzling rapport of ex-lawyer, turned supernatural P.I. Tony Peterson (Jerry Lacy) and Maine’s head witch in charge Cassandra Collins (Lara Parker), this first series really charms, creeps out, and delights in equal measure across four macabre whodunits. Better still, this series is a wonderful jumping on point for those interested in both Dark Shadows and the stellar audio dramas of Big Finish. Perfect for a breezy Halloween binge listen, the first series of The Tony and Cassandra Mysteries starts this new spin-off series off on a real high note.

Available from Big Finish.

Standing somewhat apart from main continuity, this first series really works hard to be both accessible and entertaining. Lucky for us, it succeeds at both. Though each mystery can be enjoyed on their own, this first series nails a sort of a loose serialization that rewards listeners taking in the whole box set. Battling fallen angels, cunning deal making daemons, time loops, and sometimes each other, Tony and Cassandra find themselves back in each other’s lives, forming a partnership that grows from tenuous allies to a supernatural investigation team to rival John Constantine and Zatanna. The scripts from Philip Meeks, Zara Symes, Alan Flanagan, and Aaron Lamont, stand as wonderfully spooky, gimmicky mysteries that hook listeners early, but the writing staff always makes sure to make good use of their best tools; Jerry Lacy and Lara Parker.

From the first entry, “The Mystery of Crucifix Heights”, the pair, supported by Julia Duffy’s plucky and long suffering Rita Channing, Tony’s secretary, really seem to relish the character’s new found status quo, under the direction of  David Darlington, Darren Gross, and Joseph Lidster, this series’ directorial staff. Fans of the estranged couple will delight to know that the actors haven’t lost one bit of their spunky, hilarious banter as they bicker and charm across the stories. Even better both actors really build on the established canon interactions of the characters and grow it into something new, but familiar. The Tony and Cassandra of this series are not the same people who met in Collinsport all those years ago and this debut series is all the better for it. One of the great joys of these new “extended universe” works is seeing how the characters have evolved beyond the show and The Tony and Cassandra Mysteries is a great example of how fun that evolution can be, both for the audience and the original cast members.

And the stories themselves are real belters! Like I said, they are loosely connected by the first series’ semi-serialized structure, but each one really nails a specific kind of dread and horrific fun. Philip Meeks’ opening entry is a classic “Party in a Posh Mansion” mystery in which Tony is enlisted to keep watch over an auction of occult items where the bidders suddenly start dropping like flies. The next, “The Mystery of La Danse Macabre” by Zara Symes, finds our gruesome twosome looking into a haunted playhouse, complete with a falling chandelier straight from Phantom. The series one finale, “The Mystery of Karmina Sonata” by Aaron Lamont, is a gory send up of the “Dame in Distress” type of noir these spinner rack whodunits birthed and tees up the show nicely for the incoming second and third series.


But it is the season’s third story, “The Mystery of Flight 493” by Alan Flanagan, that makes this debut series really special. Equal parts crucial point in Tony and Cassandra’s new working relationship and a wickedly clever horror take on the “time loop” story structure, this yarn really sells both the dynamic of its leads and the spooky, surprisingly psychological threats they will be facing. Hearing the show’s opening music bumper over and over across the tracks of this tale can get a bit grating, but for my money, this story is where this first series really finds its footing, sending it into a finale episode that really ties the room together, man.

If you were looking for a user friendly way into this franchise or even a playful side story starring one of the show’s great ships (don’t @ me), then look no further than The Tony and Cassandra Mysteries Series One. Anchored by the indomitable charm and skill of Lara Parker and Jerry Lacy, this twistedly fun side trip into the crossroads of crime and the supernatural is well worth taking. Just don’t make any deals. We all know how deals at the crossroads turn out and if you aren’t careful, you’ll find yourself as another case file in the “Unusual Investigations” of Tony Peterson and Cassandra Collins.

Justin Partridge has always loved monsters and he thinks that explains a lot about him. When he isn’t over analyzing comics at Newsarama or ranting about Tom Clancy over at Rogues Portal, he is building Call of Cthulhu games, spreading the good word of Anti-Life, or rewatching Garth Marenghi's Darkplace for the dozenth time. He can be reached at the gasping Lovecraftian void that is Twitter @j_partridgeIII or via e-mail at [email protected] Odds are he will want to talk about Hellblazer.  

Spend the holidays (and then some) with Tony & Cassandra

Santa Claus tends to avoid Collinsport. It's his loss, really. The place is like Halloween Town, but with more booze, shallow graves, werewolves and polyester. Who needs Santa Claus when you've got denominationally vague witchcraft?

If you're looking to binge on DARK SHADOWS beyond the holidays, Big Finish has just the gift for you. Dating back to the earliest days of their Dark Shadows audio line, the company has been plotting the international misadventures of Collinsport attorney Tony Peterson and practicing witch Cassandra Blair, aka Angelique Bouchard, aka Miranda DuVal, aka ... well, we could go on all day with Angelique's many aliases. But here, she's still posing as the sister of warlock Nicholas Blair, travelling the world with Peterson in a series that pays homage to classic mysteries such as "The Thin Man." These stories have a cult following all their own. All together, the entire series spans about nine hours, which ought to keep you busy for a while.

Big Finish has two boxed collections available. The first includes the original adventures, as written by Mark Thomas Passmore and David Llewellyn. The second is an anthology released just a few months ago of all new material. Here's what you get ... as well as some links as to where you can get it:

The Tony & Cassandra Collection
"The Death Mask," by Mark Thomas Passmore

“One of you is a murderer! None of you are above suspicion. You all had something to lose.” 

Moments after welcoming his guests to a party, millionaire Harrison Pierce is murdered. But his death is only the first of many as, trapped on an isolated island, his guests start to die in increasingly bizarre ways.  Attorney Tony Peterson must join forces with a woman who destroyed his life years before, the beautiful but deadly Cassandra Collins. But can she be trusted? And what really is the secret of the mysterious Death Mask?


"The Voodoo Amulet," by Mark Thomas Passmore

"We're surrounded by the living dead and you're worried about breaking the law?"

Supernatural investigator Tony Peterson is summoned by the devious witch Cassandra Collins to the bustling city of New Orleans.  On the trail of the mysterious Voodoo Amulet, they're hunted through bars, hotels, train stations and graveyards by the police, criminals, black magicians and zombies.
 Can Tony and Cassandra escape with their lives... and their souls?


"The Last Stop," by David Llewellyn

"Every man's a gambling man, don't you think?”

Tony Peterson is a lucky man. He's just caught the last train back to Collinsport. It's been a good day - he's renewed an old friendship and been offered a job he cannot refuse. His life is about to change.
 But Tony Peterson's luck has just run out. The last train home will turn out to be a very long journey. Will Tony be able to trust the only other survivor? And what decision will Tony make when he's presented with another offer he cannot refuse?


"The Phantom Bride," by Mark Thomas Passmore

“I'm Tony Peterson and this is my wife, Cassandra.”

A liner sailing across the ocean to London. Happy couples enjoying a relaxing few days of fine food, fine wine and the fresh sea air.  Until they start dying. Because also on board is a ghost seeking vengeance. A ghost of a woman who died in 1929.  Private detective Tony Peterson and the witch Cassandra find themselves embroiled in yet another mystery. Can they solve the dead bride's murder before they, themselves, become her latest victims?


"The Devil Cat," by Mark Thomas Passmore

"Only we could get lost in the English countryside and find ourselves trapped in The Wicker Man!"

While on vacation in England, detective Tony Peterson and the witch Cassandra visit Tony's estranged cousin Lord Trent Malkin and his wife Ruby. The two couples team up to investigate the disappearance of a maid from the manor and a series of murders by an ancient cat cult. Complicating things are hostile villagers, an unfriendly vicar and amateur sleuth, Miss Emma Simon.
Who can be trusted in the village of Little Bascombe? And if the legend of a Devil Cat wandering the countryside in search of souls to devour is true, are Tony and Cassandra about to face the greatest threat of their lives?

Get "The Tony & Cassandra Collection" HERE.

The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries

"The Mystery at Crucifix Heights" by Philip Meeks

“We need someone who doesn’t, shall we say, 'scare' easily.”

When private investigator Tony Peterson goes undercover to Chicago with his no-nonsense secretary Rita Channing, he has no idea the formidable witch Cassandra Collins is about to make a suitably dramatic entrance back into his life. At a rambling mansion called Crucifix Heights and cut off by a ferocious snowstorm Tony and Cassandra have been hired by separate clients to attend an auction of deadly arcane objects and artefacts.

The pair at first struggle to reconcile their differences but then people around them start dying horribly, one by one. They have to try to work together, because the killer at large is ingenious and seemingly unstoppable. Everyone stranded at Crucifix Heights is in peril. Including themselves.

"The Mystery of La Danse Macabre" by Zara Symes

“I don’t take kindly to almost being killed. One attempt, maybe two; well, fair’s fair. But I won’t stand for three.”

Tony and Cassandra knew when they took their first case together that there would be a few bumps in the road but when the supernatural detective duo arrive at Busby Hall in downtown Boston, a dilapidated music hall that's rumoured to be haunted, they'll find that there's more danger afoot than just things that go bump in the night. Battling against curses, bargains with the dark side, and more than one attempt on their lives, will Tony and Cassandra be able to overcome their differences and work as a team? Or will this be their last waltz?

"The Mystery of Flight 493" by Alan Flanagan

“Nobody move! There's a man standing in the doorway of the cockpit…"

When Tony and Cassandra board a flight bound for home they think that their latest case is behind them, until a terrifying creature begins to murder their fellow passengers. Something is hunting the people on Flight 493, and Tony and Cassandra must deduce what connects it with a story about a little boy who's terrified of what might be under his bed… before it's all far too late...

"The Mystery of Karmina Sonata" by Aaron Lamont

"So just for clarity’s sake. You think you’ve accidentally unleashed a demon from the Spirit World during a bogus seance which is... potentially... killing your wealthy clients. And you want us to stop it before it gets to you. Have I missed anything...?"

When Karmina Sonata arrives in their office, Tony and Cassandra think it’s just another case. A séance gone wrong, a few violent deaths... Par for the course, if you specialize in the unusual. But what if this is not just another case? What if something else is going on? And what if, just if, their sins are about to find them out? Because for Tony and Cassandra, things will never be the same again...

Get "The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries" HERE.

Review: Trask the Excorcist

Art from Dark Shadows: Year One by Guiu Vilanova.

By WALLACE McBRIDE

Exactly how full of shit was the Reverend Trask?

Arguably the primary antagonist of the 1795 story arc of DARK SHADOWS, Trask was a man of mysteries. The self-styled "witch hunter" offered no first name, verifiable credentials, or even any tangible motives for his bad behavior. There was no doubt that Trask was a charlatan, but was he intentionally deceptive, self delusional or a bit of both?

"Trask the Exorcist" seeks to explore the many, many character flaws of Barnabas Collins' favorite punching bag. The first of four stories in Big Finish's "Echoes of the Past," actor/writer Jerry Lacy takes us back a short time before Trask's arrival at Collinsport as his character engages with a young woman perhaps possessed by a demon.

Trask is in a wretched state at the story's start. He finds himself in the idyllic town of Leapville, Massachusetts, his primary concern nothing more lofty than finding the next meal. Trasks' clothes are ragged, his cupboard bare and his future dim. His primary source of income is begging alms for the poor, money that goes directly into his own pockets. When he learns of the possible possession of Penny Bascomb, the daughter of a local farmer, he offers to help the family in hopes of scamming some money and a meal from them.

The real villain of the tale remains purposely ambiguous for much of the story. Penny's behavior, as described by her family, sounds like nothing more than youthful rebellion. Kids really don't need help from Satan to sass their parents. Naturally, Trask doesn't really care either way, as long as the ends justify the means.

The exorcism occupies the bulk of the story, as Trask and Penny spar primarily over the reverend's own shortcomings. I don't want to spoil any moments of the conflict but, in the end, any real devils that hell might offer up are no competition for Trask's own metaphorical demons.

Lacy, who wrote and performs "Trask the Exorcist," provides the answer to at least one mystery about the not-so-good reverend. His full name is Orville Villarous Trask, named for his maternal grandfather. Trask avoids the use of his full name for fear someone might connect him to his late relative, who was hanged for stealing horses. Orville the Elder got off pretty light, considering was awaited his descendants. 

An interview with Jerry Lacy

By MARIE MAGINITY

Although I missed getting together with Jerry Lacy at the 50th Anniversary festival (thanks to Doubletree Hotel’s wacky WiFi), he was nice enough to answer some questions via e-mail about his upcoming play, "A Reunion of Sorts."

Jerry Lacy (center) with the cast and crew of "A Reunion of Sorts."

Dark Shadows fans associate you most with the fledgling lawyer Tony Peterson and a good number of the male bloodline of the Trask family, but not everyone knows you have also had a successful career as a writer.  How did you get started and what are some of the works you've authored?
I actually started writing many years ago by writing several scripts for TV shows, NEWHART and PARENTHOOD. But I did not like the way my scripts were treated by the networks and producers of the show. They have complete freedom to change the writer's lines and ultimately the scripts did not reflect what I had intended them to. Sometimes minor, sometimes major changes were imposed on the script and it led me to abandon that form of writing. I then switched to writing screenplays and after a few years of being unable to get any of them produced, even with encouragement from a major Hollywood literary agent, I abandoned that form of writing as well. I then turned to playwriting as a more stable and much more gratifying form of writing. I have now completed five plays, two of which are garnering some awards, and a production.

Do you prefer writing to acting?
Writing is a creative outlet for me between acting jobs.  I suppose I would say that I prefer acting, perhaps only because I have been a performer much longer than I have been a writer.  Acting comes more naturally to me and is easier than writing.  Someone else has done all the work, and just allows me to concentrate on creating a character to go with the words.

Your new play, "A Reunion of Sorts," is scheduled to premiere at Town and Country Players in Buckingham, PA.  How did you come to choose a small community theater in Bucks County as your venue?
A chance meeting with Donna Nicolazzo, the director, and her previous association with the Town and Country Players led to the current production of the play there. I sent her the play and after reading it she expressed a strong interest in directing it.

What is the play about?
The play concerns two older men who dated the same girl 30 years ago. When she calls and asks for a reunion, the two men revert to their youthful rivalry almost instantly. Even though Ted is happily married, he cannot let himself give up the beautiful Jacqueline to Nick, who is alone and forlorn. They drink and discuss, and drink and argue, and drink.

It sounds like an insightful comedy. What inspired you to write it?
I realized that there were very few parts for older men in the theatre, especially in comedy. I had been looking for a play to perform with my friend John McCook ("The Bold and the Beautiful") and could not find one. Eventually I decided the best thing would be to write one.

Do you have any plans for the piece when this production closes?
Nothing specific yet.  I am working on getting another production and possibly get the play published. There has been some discussion about possibly doing a production of it with myself and another DARK SHADOWS alumnus, but nothing definite yet.

"A Reunion of Sorts" is scheduled to run Aug. 12-20 at the Town and Country Players' barn, located 4158 York Road, Buckingham, Pa. It is directed by Donna Nicolazzo and stars James Kirkwood, Kimberlee Arnot-Weidman, Joseph Perignat, John Fogarty and Sue Burke-McKay. You can find the production's Facebook page HERE.

www.townandcountryplayers.org

Jerry Lacy kicks ass, takes names in AUGUST T. HARRISON

THE  LAST CASE AUGUST T. HARRISON, a short feature starring Jerry Lacy, is now available on Vimeo. The film stars Lacy (who played many members of the wicked Trask family on DARK SHADOWS) in the title role, a private investigator looking into a missing persons case. Here's the official summary:

"Set in and around Venice Beach, California - August T. Harrison, private eye, comes out of retirement to solve what seems at first to be a bizarre missing persons case, but as he digs deeper, he finds himself caught in the middle of a dark conspiracy involving the writings of H.P. Lovecraft. Are Lovecraft's tales just fiction? Or do they hold the secrets of the cosmos?"

THE  LAST CASE AUGUST T. HARRISON is available to rent from Vimeo. You can watch a trailer for the film below.

THE LAST CASE OF AUGUST T. HARRISON from Hollinsworth Productions on Vimeo.

Jerry Lacy meets H.P. Lovecraft

The Lovecraft E-Zine will be live streaming THE LAST CASE OF AUGUST T. HARRISON this weekend.

The film stars Jerry Lacy (of DARK SHADOWS) in the title role, and Nathan Wilson as H.P. Lovecraft. It's directed by our friend Ansel Faraj. Here's a summary:

“August T. Harrison, private eye, comes out of retirement to solve what seems at first to be a bizarre missing persons case, but as he digs deeper, he finds himself caught in the middle of a dark conspiracy involving the writings of H.P. Lovecraft. Are Lovecraft’s tales just fiction? Or do they hold the secrets of the cosmos?”

To watch THE LAST CASE OF AUGUST T. HARRISON, visit http://lovecraftzine.com/live-web-series/ on Saturday, May 9, at 9 p.m. EST!

You can see a trailer for the film below.

The CHS gets its third Rondo nomination for BEST BLOG!

The Collinsport Historical Society has received a pair of Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards nominations for its work in 2014! Not only has the CHS been nominated for BEST BLOG, but "Bride of Monster Serial," our collection of essays on horror films, has been nominated for BEST BOOK.

While DARK SHADOWS is sparsely represented on this year's ballots, you'll find several original cast members from the show mentioned elsewhere. An interview with actor Jerry Lacy about the indie film DOCTOR MABUSE has received a nod for BEST INTERVIEW, while THEATRE FANTASTIQUE: MADAME LA SOEUR (with Lacy, Lara Parker and Christoper Pennock) has been nominated for BEST SHORT FILM.

The Rondos are determined by votes from readers, so the results are quite literally in your hands. Here's how you can help.

____________________________________________________________________

There are 35 categories in all, but you DO NOT have to vote for each one in order for your vote to count. Visit the Rondo Hatton Awards site for the full list of candidates, or copy and paste the entries below and e-mail them to David Colton at [email protected] by midnight, April 19, 2015.

10. BEST SHORT FILM

THEATRE FANTASTIQUE: MADAME LA SOEUR, directed by Ansel Faraj. A seance, a disappearance, a mystery with Lara Parker, Jerry Lacy and Christoper Pennock

11. BEST BOOK
 THE BRIDE OF MONSTER SERIAL

14. BEST INTERVIEW (Award goes to interviewer)
 Rod Labbe, interview with DARK SHADOWS' Jerry Lacy in SCARY MONSTERS #90

19. BEST BLOG OR ONLINE COLUMN OF 2014
The Collinsport Historical Society
____________________________________________________________________

One vote is allowed per person. Every e-mail must include your name to be counted. All votes are kept confidential. No e-mail addresses or personal information will be shared.

If you're a regular visitor to the CHS, you're probably familiar with our MONSTER SERIAL feature. Our first collection of essays was published at the end of 2013, with "Bride Of Monster Serial" following in the early part of last year. We've been sharing complete essays from the book pretty regularly, and have a third book planned for release soon. You can read the entire MONSTER SERIAL feature by clicking this link. The book is also available on Amazon.

The Collinsport Historical Society was named BEST BLOG by the Rondos in 2012, and I'd love to see the website reclaim that honor this year. More importantly, I'm incredibly proud of the work done by the writers of "Bride Of Monster Serial" and hope to see their work recognized with an award. I'm honored that they'd lend their thoughts and names to my little website.

 The contributors are:

• Jonathan M. Chaffin
• Ansel Faraj 
• Peter H. Gilmore, high priest of the Church of Satan
• Frank Jay Gruber
• Morgan Ashley Harrell 
• Sara Shiver McBride
• Wallace McBride (that's me!)
• Patrick McCray 
• Jim Mackenzie and Sarah Giavedoni 
• Will McKinley 
• Phil Nobile Jr 
• Danny Reid 
• Desmond Reddick

THEATRE FANTASTIQUE: MADAME LA SOEUR

Congratulations are also in order for Ansel Faraj. In addition to his work on "Bride Of Monster Serial," Faraj is also the director of the Rondo-nominated THEATRE FANTASTIQUE: MADAME LA SOEUR. The nominated interview with Jerry Lacy is also related to one of Faraj's films, DOCTOR MABUSE.

Scenes from the DARK SHADOWS CRUISE

Photos from the DARK SHADOWS CRUISE began to pop up online over the weekend, presumably about five minutes after the travelers returned home from the Caribbean jaunt. I wasn't able to attend, so can't say much about the event. Luckily, Kathryn Leigh Scott has updated her blog to share her thoughts about last week's adventure. LINK

DARK SHADOWS: BLOODLUST, Episode the First

Jerry Lacy, man. Goddamn.

How in the pluperfect hell did Hollywood let this guy get away? Even as a young actor he was capable of projecting wisdom beyond his years. It's actually a wonder to listen to him pull the same trick in reverse by adding a sense of foolishness to the latest Trask incarnation, Isaiah. With a single line delivery he was able to claim the first episode of DARK SHADOWS: BLOODLUST for himself.

I spent the last two weeks hemming and hawing over how to cover the individual episodes of BLOODLUST, the first of which went on sale at Big Finish last night. It's tough to cover the DARK SHADOWS line without delving into spoiler territory, but there's really no good solution to the problem. If you've muddled through some of my previous write-ups, you'll see most of my energies are often spent talking around plot points rather than exploring them. Criticism of any kind is frequently a one-sided conversation, because the writer is frequently discussing something the reader has not yet had time to experience for themselves. With that in mind ...

SPOILER ALERT.

A 13-part serial from Big Finish, BLOODLUST is set sometime during the 1980s', after the events of KINGDOM OF THE DEAD. Big Finish notoriously plays fast and loose with the DARK SHADOWS timelime, so I wasn't expecting the decade to be any more a part of the story than the 1960s were to the original series. In other words, BLOODLUST isn't going to be a pageant of Rubik's Cubes and PUNKY BREWSTER references.

I was more concerned that my fleeting memory of KINGDOM OF THE DEAD would be a problem. It's been so long since I've heard that tale that I've forgotten all but its most urgent plot points. If the first episode of BLOODLUST is any sign, my memory won't be a problem.

The story opens with a familiar scene: Melody and Michael Devereux have arrived on Collinwood in search of a scenic (and inexpensive) honeymoon. We get a re-introduction to the town through their experiences, from the weirdo patrons at the Blue Whale , to "Mad" Maggie Evans at the local inn. It's easy to forget that Maggie spent more than her fair share of time in mental institutions (thank you, Barnabas Collins) but the writers at Big Finish remember. Rather than reset the clock and give us the virtuous, naïve Maggie, we get a much tougher interpretation of the character. While she's sometimes a point of ridicule in town, we see in the episode's final moments that she's fighting for the soul of Collinsport.

The Devereuxs, though, can be a bit groan inducing. Both are a little more precious than I would have liked but, as with Maggie Evans, there's a method to the madness. During the cutesy chitchat between the newly weds, we learn that Melody has the same sort of Little Orphan Annie resume that lines up perfectly with that of Collinwood's most popular governess, Victoria Winters.

And then, just when you think that Big Finish is sizing her up to replace Alexandra Moltke, Melody Devereux is dead. In fact, "Melody Devereux is dead" are the final words spoken in the episode. It was such a stunning turn of events that I was both shocked and amused. The writers had been playing a game with the listener, and I'd completely fallen for it. (Maybe, anyway. Characters on DARK SHADOWS have a habit of popping back up, regardless of the state of their vital signs.)

It didn't take long for the Devereuxs to figure out something was amiss in Collinsport. The management at the Blue Whale (played by Marie Wallace and Jamison Selby) quickly put them on their guard. Then in wanders Lacy as the latest Trask, who is all bluster and Satan! while he also affectionately advises the Devereuxs to avoid the Salmon at dinner. I have no idea what's up with this character, but we learn that his manic warnings aren't baseless: Some creepy shit is going down in Collinwood, and everyone knows it. Still, they quickly dismiss Trask, but it might just be pragmatism. Because having a Trask on your team is almost always a handicap.

The acting styles in this episode were a little offputting at the start. As the Devereuxs, Daisy Tormé and Jeff Harding lay it on a bit thick. Their performances are broad, and seem guided by a desire for vocal clarity above anything else. Plastic performances aren't exactly an alien presence on DARK SHADOWS, but I was worried the show's fresh faces were going to be insufferable. When Melody bit the dust in the show's final moments, it seemed obvious that the pair were intentionally being written and played as Pollyannas. We're not supposed to have much respect for them because, in a very real way, they're outsiders to our community.

Alec Newman as "David Collins."

While the episode is always moving forward and delivering information to the listener, we only get a glimpse of what's to come. Wallace, Lacy and Kathryn Leigh Scott are the only original cast members to appear here, and they're all wonderful. I'm looking forward to hearing more from Roger Carvalho's "Benjamin Franklin," as well. He had a relaxed presence that's welcome.

More interesting to me than the identity of Melody's killer (Sheriff Rhinda Tate should probably just arrest Barnabas Collins and be done with it) is the nature of David Collins' business in family's new mining venture. We learn that David is the last of the Collinses at the big house, and that he's closed up the cannery and has refocused his interests in mining. I suspect he's gone all Mola Ram and is looking for something very specific. Time will tell.

Also, I hope we hear more about Collinsport's wonderful historical society. That place sounds swell.

The series is scheduled to be released two episodes per week, so look for the next installment to arrive soon. You can find the series HERE.

Here's a Peter Gabriel video to get you into the '80s mood.

Marie Wallace, Jerry Lacy return for DARK SHADOWS: BLOODLUST

Big Finish has added two more original DARK SHADOWS cast members to the upcoming serial, BLOODLUST.

Jerry Lacy and Marie Wallace

Marie Wallace is reprising her role as landlady Jessica Griffin. Jessica arrived in Collinsport in "Kingdom of the Dead" to support her son after his wife's death.

“Ed’s wife, Susan, died,” says co-producer Joseph Lidster, “so he’s a broken man. Luckily, his mother, Jessica, has returned to Collinsport to run the Blue Whale. Jessica's the town gossip - she knows everything about everyone. Or so she thinks…”

Dark Shadows veteran, Jerry Lacy, is also returning, reprising his role as the Reverend Isaiah Trask.

“Trask is a defeated man,” says co-producer David Darlington. “He’s lost his faith, and is often to be found propping up the bar in the Blue Whale. But where does he go at night ...?”

Could Jessica's gossip make her a target for the killer? Could Isaiah be meting out justice on those he believes to be sinners?

You can hear Jessica and Isaiah introducing themselves here, and they've been added to the extensive cast gallery here.

Dark Shadows: Bloodlust is a 13-part miniseries released in January and February 2015. It's available to pre-order here.

DARK SHADOWS cast members star in MADAME LaSOEUR

A new film from Ansel Faraj is now streaming for free on Youtube.

MADAME LaSOEUR is a short featuring original DARK SHADOWS cast members Jerry Lacy, Christopher Pennock, Lara Parker and Lisa Richards. Set during the 1960s, the film follows the investigation of Dr. Henry Markway (Lacy), who is searching for a man who disappeared during a séance conducted by spiritualist Madame LeSoeur.

Faraj has a number of films streaming at the official Youtube channel of Hollinsworth Productions. You can find the company online at www.hollinsworthproductions.com.

DARK SHADOWS reunion to take place at Epic-Con

Five original cast members from DARK SHADOWS are scheduled to attend the second annual Epic-Con Ohio: Geek Fest this weekend.

Set to appear are Jerry Lacy, Sharon Sharon Lentz, Lara Parker, Kathryn Leigh Scott and Marie Wallace. Epic-Con Ohio takes place Oct. 24-26  at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Dayton, Ohio.

The event will be donating $5 from each ticket to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.


Click HERE for more details.

First look at Jerry Lacy in SPIDORA

 

Jerry Lacy

Back in September,  FRED OLEN RAY completed a Kickstarter campaign to finance a short film titled SPIDORA.The cult film icon behind movies like HOLLYWOOD CHAINSAW HOOKERS and BIKINI DRIVE-IN persuaded DARK SHADOWS alumnus JERRY LACY to appear in the film as "Dr. Graves," operator of a freak show that showcases characters such as Electra, Mora, the Lobster Girl and Spidora.

Those of us who contributed to the Kickstarter effort have been getting regular updates about the production, which have included a variety of production photos. Today, Ray shared the first photo of Lacy in costume. He notes that this costume might not be what Lacy will ultimately wear in the film, but included the image as an example of the costumes that have been tested.

Here's the official film synopsis:

"SPIDORA is a dark journey inside the world of Dr. Graves' Palace of Illusions; a Museum of Human Oddities where mysterious creatures like Electra, Spidora and Mora, the Lobster Girl, command the stage. It is a world trapped between light and shadow where anything can happen... and does."

This peanut is invested with the power of the almighty!

It's said that the greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. But that time he turned Jerry Lacy into a peanut was also kind of impressive.

Steve Casino has added to his DARK SHADOWS gallery of peanut art with this interpretation of the Rev. Trask. You'll recall his Barnabas Collins creation from a few months back, and I guess he decided every anti-hero needed a villain.

I'm still struggling to find a way to describe Casino's work. When I use the term "peanut art" it's because I don't know what else to call it. He's got one hell of a skill set (no pun intended) because his work incorporates painting, sculpture and who knows what else. Don't let the "peanut" element of these sculptures fool you: This is not the work of a flea market "découpage" hobbyist.
 
You can find Steve online at http://stevecasino.com, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/painterofnuts.

DARK SHADOWS news, notes and assorted weirdness

* Above is a video of the 1795 storyline of DARK SHADOWS,  re-enacted with a quickness. You're welcome. (Thanks to Shadows on the Wall for the tip.)

* DOCTOR MABUSE, which features Jerry Lacy, Lara Parker and Kathryn Leigh Scott, is now available for rent on VIMEO. The sequel, DOCTOR MABUSE: ETIOPOMAR, will debut April 30 in Los Angeles. Click HERE for more details on that screening.


* BIG FINISH has launched a new Twitter feed dedicated to its line of DARK SHADOWS audiodramas. Go follow them!

Welcome to the official Twitter account for the Dark Shadows audio dramas! Follow for news, pictures and maybe even the odd spooky spoiler.
— DarkShadowsBFP (@darkshadowsbfp) April 21, 2014

You can find the Twitter feed here: https://twitter.com/darkshadowsbfp

* Speaking of BIG FINISH, here's a review of their most recent DARK SHADOWS release, CARRIAGE OF THE DAMNED. Read it HERE.

* THE AV CLUB has a well-reasoned response to the wave of Johnny Depp backlash. The writer manages not to mention DARK SHADOWS. Read it HERE.

* Finally, Hermes Press has announced it is publishing DARK SHADOWS: THE COMPLETE NEWSPAPER DAILIES AND SUNDAYstrips in hardcover. Expected to be released in September, the book is now available for pre-order from Amazon. (I'd expect the cover art to change between now and publication.)

Dark Shadows! Dracula! Doctor Mabuse!

Tickets still are available for this “DDD Double Feature” - “Dark Shadows, Doctor Mabuse, and Dracula” all together on one movie screen!

The event will feature two films, 4 four Dark Shadows guests in audience Q&A and autograph/photo sessions, memorabilia for sale, a charity auction of Dark Shadows items, a surprise Dark Shadows screening, and more.

The event begins 6:15 p.m., Wednesday, April 30, at the Vista Theatre in Los Angeles.

"Doctor Mabuse: Etiopomar” is the sequel to “Doctor Mabuse,” which starred DS actors JERRY LACY, LARA PARKER, and KATHRYN LEIGH SCOTT. They reprise their roles and are joined by CHRIS PENNOCK in “Doctor Mabuse 2: Etiopomar ” Written and directed by ANSEL FARAJ, this is its world premiere. JERRY, LARA, CHRIS, and ANSEL will attend and be available for free autographs and photo opportunities with fans.

“Dracula” was a 1974 movie by “Dark Shadows” creator/producer Dan Curtis and stars Academy Award winner Jack Palance. Considered one of the most accurate adaptations of the iconic Bram Stoker novel, Dan’s version is newly remastered and is being shown on an American movie screen for the first time.

Dark Shadows Music Composer ROBERT COBERT also joins us as we celebrate his upcoming 90th birthday. He was the music composer for “Dracula” and will be available to autograph the debuting “Dracula” soundtrack CD.

Merchandise for “Dark Shadows,” “Mabuse,” and the “Dracula” soundtrack CD will be available for purchase. The evening will conclude with a surprise DS screening.

The event is at the Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90027  323-660-6639.

Tickets are $15 per person.

You can pay using PayPal, or by check or money order sent by postal-mail.

To pay via PayPal, the recipient email address is [email protected]

To pay by postal-mail:
Please make check / money order payable to:   ShadowGram.
Please include a SASE (Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope) and send to:

ShadowGram
Marcy Robin
P.O. Box 1766
Temple City, CA 91780-7766

Advance order tickets must be received no later than April 23. Those who purchase their tickets in advance will receive a special DARK SHADOWS gift at the “Movie Night.”

Tickets also will be sold at the door.

DARK SHADOWS cast members reunite at Monster Mania

DARK SHADOWS cast members joined the likes of Robert Englund, Drea DeMatteo and Gunnar Hansen (the original "Leatherface" in THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE) at the Monster Mania Con in Cherry Hill, N.J. over the weekend. The delegation from Collinsport included Lara Parker, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Sharon Smyth Lentz, Marie Wallace and Jerry Lacy. Photos from the event were circulating social media networks over the weekend, and I've swiped for your enjoyment.

But the parties are just getting started! Cast members from DARK SHADOWS will continue to make personal appearances throughout the summer. Sharon will appear at MonsterCon in Greenville, S.C., the weekend of July 18-20. Lara and Kathryn will be a ConCarolinas in Charlotte, N.C., the weekend of May 30-June 1. The Collinsport Historical Society will also be present at both conventions ... stop by our tables and say hello!
 
On June 28-29, Lara, Kathryn and Marie will be joined by David Selby, James Storm, John Karlen and Nancy Barrett at the annual Dark Shadows Festival in Tarrytown, N.Y.

Stay tuned for announcements about future public appearances!

Collinsport News Bulletins

Lara Parker, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Marie Wallace and Jerry Lacy are scheduled to appear at this year's MONSTER-MANIA CON. Are scheduled to appear are Robert Englund, Virginia Madsen, Tony Todd, Dee Wallace, Ernie Hudson and lots more. The event takes place March 7-9 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cherry Hill, N.J. For more information, visit the event's official website, www.monstermania.net.

Speaking of Kathryn Leigh Scott, she's interviewed about her novel DOWN AND OUT IN BEVERLY HEELS in the latest episode of the Quotable Authors podcast.

Hollinsworth Productions "Theatre Fantastique" will release its first episode, THE MADNESS OF RODERICK USHER, on Feb. 7. Theatre Fantastique is an online anthology series revolving around tales of mystery, fantasy, and horror.  The premiere episode stars Christopher Pennock and is directed by Ansel Faraj. Pennock also is scheduled to return in the next two episodes of the series, A DESCENT INTO A MAELSTROM and THE HAPPY HOME OF THE MURDEROUS MAHONES, later in 2014. Look for these films on the official Youtube channel of Hollinsworth Productions.
 

A one-of-a-kind SEAVIEW TERRACE pillow is currently up for auction at Ebay. The auction comes to a close on Jan. 19, FYI.

Trailer: DOCTOR MABUSE: ETIOPOMAR

The first trailer for DOCTOR MABUSE: ETIOPOMAR hit the Internet over the weekend. A sequel to last year's DOCTOR MABUSE by director Ansel Faraj, the film sees the return of much of the cast, including Jerry Lacy, Nathan Wilson, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Lara Parker, Christopher Pennock, Dane Corrigan, Bahia Garrigan, and Kate Avery. (Note: Corrigan plays a character named "Rotwang," which ought to be familiar to fans of Fritz Lang ... and cinema, in general.)

Review: THE WICKED AND THE DEAD

As a concept, THE WICKED AND THE DEAD is one of the more unappealing DARK SHADOWS stories from Big Finish. The Rev. Gregory Trask has been walled-up an isolated room of Collinwood, left to die by Judith Collins as punishment for his many infidelities. It's a story first told on the original series more than 40 years ago, which makes the outcome of this episode inevitable.

Even though it's been sitting on my shelf for a few years, I've never found the time to listen to it. What purpose did it serve? If the story played out in a way different from how it was presented on the television show, wouldn't that be cheating?

A few weeks back I found myself taking a long drive to Atlanta, Ga., and decided to catch up on some of the DARK SHADOWS audio dramas I'd missed. At the top of the drive's playlist was THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF TRASK, an episode that re-introduces a character important to this year's Big Finish storyline.

Twenty minutes into the trip, though, I realized I'd been listening to THE WICKED AND THE DEAD by mistake.

It was the happiest of accidents. No, THE WICKED AND THE DEAD doesn't offer many opportunities for writer ERIC WALLACE to alter Trask's fate. It might not fit well with established events from 1897, but Wallace does a great job of giving actors JERRY LACY and JOHN KARLEN material they can really sink their teeth into. Both men have always had phenomenal range, and THE WICKED AND THE DEAD lets them both go a little bit crazy with their deliveries. The performances here are amazing, and Wallace draws out the tension between the two actors throughout it's running time.

Lacy is great, but he's one of those actors who is so consistently good that it's easy to take him for granted (see also TOM HANKS.) Here, he plays Bud Abbott to Karlen's sinister Lou Costello, and carries the dramatic weight of the story: Trask is slowly deconstructed as a character as he's tormented by a phantom that may or may not be the ghost of Carl Collins.

It might be Lacy's story, but it's Karlen's show. His performance here has the kind of energy I hadn't seen from the actor since ... well, since his days on DARK SHADOWS. He gets to play both fool and monster here, and the transitions are perfect. Karlen has been stuck playing domesticated characters for so long that it was refreshing to see him go a little Jack Nicholson.

While the story never gives its players the chance to leave Trask's improvised prison cell, their back and forth lets them explore the extensive history of the Trask family. Wallace plays around with notions of memory in this episode, creating the illusion that the story moves around more than it really does. THE WICKED AND THE DEAD travels from Collinsport, Maine, to Kansas and Massachusetts, as we learn about Trask's questionable upbringing.

And here's where my early concerns about the story began to fall apart. Is THE WICKED AND THE DEAD a little stagebound? Sure. Physically, it really doesn't go anywhere. It's just two men sitting in a darkened room in Collinwood, talking about past experiences.

Only it's not that, either, is it? It's just two actors reading lines in a California recording studio. The performances and writing in this episode are so evocative that you probably won't realize that it's made up of nothing more substantial than words spoken into a microphone. While the idea for the story is less than compelling, the execution more than justifies its existence. I say check it out.